Andrew J. Watts, a Barbados national, was sentenced in Chicago by U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall to 114 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of just under $1.7 million for devising and executing a stolen identity federal income tax refund fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.

According to court documents, between 2007 and 2011, Watts filed false federal income tax returns in the names of deceased taxpayers seeking fraudulent refunds. Watts either signed the name of the deceased taxpayer to the tax return, or would falsely list himself as the deceased taxpayer’s representative. As part of the scheme, Watts filed over 470 false federal income tax returns, claiming fraudulent refunds in excess of $120 million, and the IRS issued refunds in excess of $10 million. Watts directed the IRS to either mail the refund checks to an address he controlled or to electronically deposit the refund into a bank account under his control.

“While all taxpayers are victims when criminals file false tax returns using stolen identities, those who falsely use the names of deceased individuals add to the grief and burdens of their families,” said Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “We will prosecute and seek just punishment against those who seek to commit these crimes.”

“IRS-Criminal Investigation has made investigating refund fraud and identity theft a top priority and we will vigorously pursue those who undermine the integrity of the U.S. tax system,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Individuals who commit refund fraud and identity theft of this magnitude deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

On July 10, 2012, Watts pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. King, Jr., Northern District of Illinois, and Trial Attorney Michelle Petersen, Department of Justice, Tax Division.

24 responses to “Barbadian Andrew J. Watts sentenced to 9 years for Identity Theft in USA”

In Barbados he would get thirty years plus 10 years for good measure for leaving the country and having lost his citizenship, unless, of course, he could share some of those stolen dollars with the right people, in which case he would be free.

And here I was thinking that bajans do not commit crimes in other countries. He is lucky, federal crime, federal time. Really lucky. He gets to watch tv, read newspapers and books, do a degree if so inclined. Have work release programs. God Bless America. Come out, get a job, repeat.

Bravo! Watts teef from the biggest teef…Government! Any and all Goverments are teefs. Pity he didn’t get away with it…he didn’t think through how best to sign the documents, should have kept his signature and name far from them.

Ill-gotten gain. The book of Jeremiah tells you about such. Cosmic Law fulfills. The same goes for persons who have been placed in jobs that truly did not belong to them. Eventually, they will be exposed for their inefficiencies.

The United States just recently convicted Victor Bourn, a Bajan [drug trafficking and money laundering] and gets LIFE IN PRISON. The United States now convicts Andrew Watts, another Bajan [identity theft]. It is now known what Bajans are capable of – a lot of ugly and embarrassing things: money laundering, drug trafficking, identity theft, police rape (Shanique Myrie), massive land theft (Beatrice Henry/violet Beckles), corrupt lawyers, politicians, etc. Current opposition leader and ex-prime minister Owen Arthur atop all that is a public drunk, inept and corrupt buttttttt may be granted prime minister again!!!!! Mind blowing. That’s really mind blowing.

That what I have said thus far is truthful but not funny. This is; The S&P on July 17th downgraded Barbados to junk bond status. This was major news due to Arthur and the BLP. Immediately after announcement of the S&P downgrade, Arthur went about ranting and raving “Call the election!!! Let us get this behind us [the election] and let all the fundamental decisions that must be made about the countries future be made in a period of calm and seriousness rather than in a period of electoral frenzy”.

Arthur seems to think that Barbados needs him and him only to survive. The fact is Arthur is a public drunk (see YouTube video), inept and corrupt. Arthur, during a budget debate could not remember that he actually chaired the meetings of Cabinet discussing the VECO matter. He said he wished he was there. But when told by both Minister Sinckler and the Prime Minister – “no Owen, you were there,’ he then said that he said something else. When pressed again, he again said something completely different and also said that he never said what he said on the two previous occasions the entire country heard him say it. Either he was drunk, a suffer of Alzheimer’s disease, forgot taking his medication and or both.

Stuart seemingly does not know what he is doing buttttttt Arthur for certain does not know what he is doing either, drunk or sober. Arthur is accountable for all of the following whether drunk or sober:

Regardless of FACTS, Bajans still support Arthur. Winston Roach [Barbados] [Barbados Water Authority] thinks he has credibility because his cousin is the great Owen Arthur, “I have much credibility and persons for my family roots are very influential” butttttt Arthur is a public drunk, inept and corrupt. Richard Arthur, another cousin is now incarnated [Dodds Prison] [St. Philips, Barbados]. Winston, himself is really rather embarrassing.

Al Barrack we know originated during the days of Arthur and the BLP. Al Barrack built the complex at Warrens without tender and Barrack had no record of building a project that size. The BLP did that not the other party. Arthur and the BLP awarded VECO Corporation (Alaska) a government contract without tender. VECO built the prison at Dodds in St. Philip and VECO had no history of building prisons. The BLP did that, not the other party.

Violet Beckles/heirs are victims of massive land theft. The BLP did that, not the other party. Clyde Denny, another victim of land theft willingly gave up his house and land to the Barbados government for construction of the Eagle Hall Market. Denny was relocated to Passage View, Passage View road in St. Michael by government but was never compensated for the loss of his property. The BLP did that not the other party.

The Nigerian Water Heater Project is yet another BLP mess mountain and rather embarrassing. Arthur invested 2.4 million dollars in a Nigerian water heater project. No water heaters were produced and the 2.4 million was lost and or unaccounted for. The BLP did that, not the other party.

All said thus far is factual and rather embarrassing. This too; the BLP around August 2007 created a look-alike version of the Barbados Free Press site and used their logo. The BLP did this not the other party. They, the BLP attempted to confuse the public and draw traffic from the genuine Barbados Free Press posts. In doing this, they, the BLP entered into plagiarism and copyright theft. The BLP did that not the other party.

David Thompson, now deceased escaped confrontation. Arthur “still kicking” cannot TRUTHFULLY confront the Barbadian people concerning all of the following but yet has not done so:

And I feel sure u can make a list just as long for the other party. Just trying to be fair and strike a balance so people in bim will see wat their options or lack of actually are. Its the taxpayers who ultimately pay for all these misdeeds, not the politicians.

The other party had friends but the wrong ones, Leroy Parris and Lawrence Duprey. David Thompson we know was a main element inside the CLICO matter but Owen Arthur took 75,000, massive land, etc. that didn’t belong to him. David Thompson now deceased escaped the CLICO confrontation. Owen Arthur, alive and still kicking has to confront Baradians. All of the following occurred during the functioning years of BLP government with Arthur at the helm:

And I still say that thompson widow mara should be jailed for her complicity and conspiracy, she and her daughters now enjoy the fruit of clico policyholders hard work, and she does so with no conscience and a smirk.

Interesting, punishment should knock of the door of Mara Thompson NOT Owen Arthur for massive land theft (Violet Beckles/heirs), money laundering (75,000), etc. All should be residents of Dodds: Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley, Dale Marshall, Gline Clark, Leroy Parris, Sir Richard L. Cheltenham and so many more. Mara Thompson should have a conscience. Arthur and all others should have a conscience too. Someone removed Beatrice Henry and or Violet Beckles from the books. It was not a mistake just GREED. The Arch Cot land we know is linked to Mia Mottley. The Motley family purchased the Arch Cot land and within six months got planning permission when the previous owner couldn’t. It wasn’t a mistake just GREED. The 75,000 cheque that own put into his personal banking account was not a mistake just GREED.

Both parties, the BLP and DLP had fun with greed and corruption. Both are tainted with mountains of mess. The BLP mess mountains though are more immense and overly embarrassing. Don’t forget the BLP prompted a website that involved arson, rape, and murder of a political opponent of the government. Arthur refused to acknowledge a letter from the victim of death threats and the police would not investigate because some of the death threats were forwarded from a computer used by a BLP member.

PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2012 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS

The Motley family purchased the Arch Cot land and within six months got planning permission when the oh,
We have the deed and their name not on it , Beatrice Henry nor Violet Beckles sold nothing to the Motley family nor no one else. Study that one ,More Fraud

PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2012 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS

Something IMMEDIATELY, some type of law (s) should be put in place to protect land owners, policyholders, etc. Something IMMEDIATELY, some type of law (s) should be put in place to persecute and convict individuals with authority. The United States, like them or not are notorious at persecuting and convicting high level authorities; they the United States does this without hesitation. Bajans likely does not know the truth, the whole truth about the VECO Corporation involving Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley, Dale Marshall, etc. The United States likely knows the truth, the whole truth considering FACT VECO (Alaska) was home based in the United States and investigated by both the IRS and FBI. Several United States goverment individuals linked to VECO was persecuted and convicted. Too bad they Arthur, Mottley, Marshall, etc were not residents in the United States like Victor Bourne and Andrew Watts.

David Thompson put the 75,000 cheque in Arthur’s face but made no attempt to persecute and convict him. Thompson knew Arthur was not an honest man. He knew that he also was not an honest man. Arthur took CLICO money, 75,0000. Thompson did the same but an amount large than 75,000. This is why Mara (widow) expresses smirk. Maybe. He, Thompson made no attempt to investigate, persecute and convict those he knew were involed in that VECO mess because he himself got into it himself. He, Thompson got some of that VECO money too. Maybe.

Am saying who commit crimes against the taxpayers and benefit financially should pay, am reading the stuff, but am not sure who did wat, since it appears so many did this, that and the next because they can get away with it. And to add insult to injury, sue anyone who says anything about it. Now tell me, who will be jailed for all these decades of political wrongdoing in Bim and when?????

Tax payers in the soon coming general election will choose a ruling party for the next five years. If the DLP wins, tax payers care nothing about CLICO money that Mara Thompson has in her posession. If the BLP wins, taxpayers care nothing about FACT that Arthur is a drunk and care nothing about none of the following that occured during fourteen years of the BLP with Arthur at the helm:

Both the BLP and DLP are tainted with mountains of mess. The BLP mess mountains though are more immense and overly embarrassing. Stuart seemingly does not know what he is doing. Arthur for certain does not know what he is doing either, sober or drunk.

Further on, there will be another CLICO, money laundering, massive land theft because Barbados does not force investigation, persecute and convict corrupt lawyers, politicians, etc.

Corruption we know is everywhere and in every place. Some countries, big and small accept and or tolerate it, some don’t. The US fights it, Barbados does not. The US does not tolerate it, Barbados does. These individuals are all proof that the US fights corruption and will not tolerate it: Kwame Kilpatrick, Monica Conyers, Rod Blagojevich, Italia Federici, Kevin Ring, Barbara Rose Collins, Nicholas Mavroules, Albert Buslamante, Samuel B. Kent, David Safavian, J. Steven Giles, Richard Tonry, Mario Biaggi, etc.

On 08/31/2006 Officials of the FBI and IRS raided the offices of several prominent members of the Alaskian Legislation. The investigation involved allegation of illegal gifts to lawmakers from the VECO Corporation home based in Alaska. One of them, Senator Ted Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 29, 2008 on seven counts of alleging that Stevens received from VECO hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts that he did not declare on his US Senate financial disclosure forms. Stevens was convicted on all seven of these charges on October 28, 2008. All convictions were later vacated. Another, Don Young was under federal investigation for possibly taking bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from the VECO Corporation. Between 1996 and 2006, Young received $157,000 from VECO employees and its political action committee. Also, the Alaska State House of Representatives Pete Kott, Bruce Weyhrauch and Vic Kohring were all charged with federal crimes as part of the investigation into VECO.

Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall gave to VECO a government contract WITHOUT TENDER and VECO had no record of building prisons. Certainly, VECO gave to them, Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall something for such generosity. Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall in the United States also would have been persecuted and convicted possibly for taking bribes, illegal gratuties and gifts from VECO. Arthur should be at Dodds in St. Philip with brother Richard, these too, Mia Mottley, Dale Marshall, Gline Clark, etc. too.

FOCUS HERE PEOPLE! FOCUS!
Understand the gravity of this action which the perpetrator took in a foreign land and what it means to us.
When this individual is released, he will probably be sent back here forthwith. Compound that with the technological advancements we will have made world wide in the next decade and then multiply that by 1 or 2 hundred. That is the basic risk we in Barbados will face regarding this type of crime. Don’t tell me about the police. They will be powerless. Identity theft will be in our top three crimes in the next decade because of the way our society handles and treats delicate or sensitive information. We are ripe for the picking! Time to get serious about who u give ANY information about yourself to, what they do with it, how it is handled and who has access to it.
For instance, Barbadians now have a credit bureau set up which holds their names, addresses, credit history, and other sensitive financial and personal information. A profile of your spending , paying and other financial habits is already created and being accessed. When you apply for credit at any store, financial institution or otherwise, they reference this credit bureau. But who regulates it? Who validates that the information they have on any of us is accurate and its integrity is maintained? What is your recourse should your name be used without your consent and your credit brought into dis-repute?
We are playing the grand fool with Information Security. Keep playing it! We will tremble at the resulting effects in due course.

Winston Roach, cousin of Owen Arthur I hope will be careful when traveling in the U.S. inquiring about one’s credit status and then boasting about his family roots. He, Winston met someone in the U.S. via a social networking site, Tagged, asked about her credit status “how’s your credit”. His, he said was good but over ex-tended awaiting money from his job [Barbados Water Authority] and would be back in good health; this he stated “in writing”.

I have not seen any wrong doing. Not all suppliers are honest e.g. The Nigerian hot water. 2.4 x 19^6. The world court could take care of that. Remember the Bell Telephone system. The need for infrastructure is a must as the increase for vehicles and water and lighting. All land belong to the State when needed. The Politicians have to do what they have to do. Bajan A. J Watts did not know when to quit and reside in another country and spend some of the lute. now the Government freezes the account.